Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government has frozen the admission programme for Afghan nationals but a Berlin court stated that a family was promised safe passage to Germany. Approximately 2,500 Afghans with similar approvals await travel from Pakistan. The programme serves Afghan workers, journalists, and activists at risk from the Taliban. While the government can review the programme and halt new approvals, it must honor existing commitments. To date, over 33,000 Afghans have successfully relocated to Germany under this initiative since its inception.
The new government under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz has frozen the programme, but Berlin's administrative court said the family had been given a "legally binding" commitment and must be allowed to travel to Germany.
About 2,500 Afghans with similar approvals are estimated to be in Pakistan waiting to be able to travel to Germany.
The programme was set up for those who worked with Germany's army or other institutions in Afghanistan, as well as journalists and activists judged to be threatened by the Taliban.
The court stated the government had the right "to decide whether and under what conditions the admission programme for Afghan nationals will be continued" and could "abstain from new approvals during this decision process".
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